Chapter 47

This time, it was Master Liao from the Liao family's boxing who came to the door. Yip Man couldn't avoid him and had to let him in. Li She glanced at him and whispered, "Just a hidden force! Ah Man will take care of it quickly." Upon hearing Li She's words, Zhang Yongcheng was no longer worried.

The subsequent events unfolded just as they did in the movie world. Master Liao sat down and had a meal with Yip Man's family. After the meal, Yip Man asked Zhang Yongcheng to take the children inside, while Li She stayed to watch.

Master Liao looked curiously at this young man who didn't seem to know martial arts and said nothing. However, he had noticed Yip Man's respectful attitude towards Li She during the meal and didn't want to say anything. Master Liao got into a fighting stance and prepared to attack. Li She then said, "Ah Man is leaving tomorrow. Use the 'Eagle and Snake Combat' to show me how far you've come!"

Yip Man, who had originally been in a Wing Chun stance, was taken aback for a moment and respectfully replied, "Yes, Master." Master Liao was even more surprised upon hearing Yip Man's words, not expecting this young man in his twenties to be Yip Man's master. He had investigated before coming and knew that Yip Man's master was the martial arts grandmaster Chen Huashun. This made him look down on Yip Man.

Yip Man got into the starting position of the 'Eagle and Snake Combat,' his body resembling a snake, and his aura changed, becoming like a fierce beast. Master Liao had gone to great lengths to open a martial arts school in Foshan. He had already planned that if he won, he would publicize it widely, as Yip Man was known as the best martial artist in Foshan. If he lost, he would claim it was a private match, and Yip Man wouldn't make a fuss.

Seeing Yip Man's aura change, Master Liao cursed inwardly, "Just putting on a show," and attacked. If it were Wing Chun, the defense would be the main focus, emphasizing counterattacks. However, the 'Eagle and Snake Combat' was about killing with every move. This was the difference between ancient martial arts and modern internal martial arts. In those war-torn times, it was a matter of life and death, and there was no talk of winning through virtue. Yip Man also advanced, moving like a snake, deeply understanding the essence of the snake-like movements and eagle-like postures in the 'Eagle and Snake Combat.' As soon as he got close, Yip Man's eagle claw extended, one hand grabbing Master Liao's forehead, and his thumb pressing on the other's temple. If he had internal energy, this move could have been fatal, just by releasing his internal force.

Although Yip Man didn't have internal energy, he had already reached the level of subtle force. If the internal force entered the body, the opponent would either die or be crippled, especially since it was the most vulnerable part of the human body, the brain. However, since Master Liao had come for a friendly match, Yip Man held back, pulling the opponent's forehead down with his left hand and extending his other hand in a snake-like motion, stopping just five centimeters from the opponent's throat.

"Phew, phew, phew..." Master Liao panted heavily, unable to believe it. He had thought his skills were at least on par with Yip Man's, but he was taken down in one move. If it had been a life-or-death fight, he would have been killed by Yip Man.

"Thank you for letting me win," Master Liao said, rubbing his bruised forehead.

Yip Man casually replied and saw him off. Before leaving, Master Liao reminded Yip Man not to publicize the private match.

Although Li She's arrival had greatly improved Yip Man's skills, the scene of Yip Man sparring with Master Liao was still seen by Sha Danyuan, who was picking up a kite.

After seeing off Master Liao, Yip Man looked at his master, with whom he had spent over a month, and asked, "Master, did I do anything to offend you? Why are you leaving so soon? I still have many things I want to learn from you."

Li She waved his hand and smiled, "Now that the Japanese have occupied the Northeast, I, a lone man, am still Chinese and should contribute to the country. You have a family to take care of. Stay in Foshan and be careful."

Yip Man was about to say he wanted to follow Li She to the Northeast to fight the Japanese, but he held back when he saw Zhang Yongcheng and his son coming out.

The next morning, Yip Man prepared many things for Li She and gave him a lot of money. Li She then left.

As Li She boarded the train and watched Yip Man disappear on the platform, he began to think about how to cultivate the killing intent.

"Now that the Northeast is occupied by the Japanese, heh, there are Japanese soldiers everywhere! Hmph, there's plenty to kill," Li She thought.

The long whistle of the train sounded as it carried Li She to the occupied Northeast. His destination was Shanhaiguan. Due to Zhang Xueliang's withdrawal of the Northeast Army, places north of Shanhaiguan, such as Jinzhou, Huludao, and Harbin, were all occupied by the Japanese.

Since the Japanese had occupied the Northeast, trains heading north could only reach Shanhaiguan. The dark train traveled north, and at each station, Li She saw the listless Northeast Army soldiers, who had lost their homes and dignity. As he moved further north into the Japanese-controlled areas, he saw the Japanese flags and slogans of "Sino-Japanese friendship" everywhere.

Those who hadn't lived through that era couldn't understand the sorrow. The country was broken, but the mountains and rivers remained. The blood of the people was unknown. The listless eyes and numb expressions of the people made them look like walking dead. The country was truly at a critical juncture, as the song said, with the nation on the brink of destruction and the suffering of thirty million compatriots about to be lost in this disaster.

After getting off the train, Li She first found a rickshaw and went to the best Western clothing store in Shanhaiguan, where he bought a high-end suit. The store owner was particularly attentive because Li She had a lot of money.

Li She put on a plaid suit, tied a tie, and wore a fancy gold watch, looking like a successful businessman.

This was a global chess game, with each country gambling with centuries of luck. Before leaving, Yip Man had prepared a lot of money for Li She. After getting off the train, Li She checked into a hotel called "East Asia Hotel." Li She, who was proficient in over twenty languages, spoke Japanese with a Tokyo accent.

The hotel had a Japanese-style decor, and the manager, dressed in a black kimono, smiled warmly. The hotel was filled with Japanese women with white makeup, making them all look similar.

Li She walked straight to the counter and said in Japanese, "Hello, my name is Yamamoto Ichiro." Yamamoto was a common surname in Japan, and Li She looked arrogant. His deceased master had once said that the more high-profile you were in Japan, the easier it was to get things done. Following this philosophy, Li She kept his head at a forty-five-degree angle, looking down at the other person.

Upon hearing Li She's standard Tokyo accent, the manager respectfully said, "Hello, Mr. Yamamoto. I am Takashita Taro. Are you here to stay or to eat?" The manager, with triangular eyes, sized up this distinguished guest. In those war-torn times, it was rare to see someone wearing such a high-end suit, and the shiny gold watch indicated that the person was of high status. The standard Tokyo accent suggested that the person was wealthy and influential in Kyoto.

With the Imperial Army advancing into China, many people from Tokyo had come to do business. Li She's appearance and standard Tokyo accent made the manager open the best room for him without even checking his documents. The room had an independent bathroom and a tatami floor. A geisha with a pale face, whose age was indiscernible, led Li She to the best room in the hotel.

As night fell over the ancient city of Shanhaiguan, which was built during the Ming Dynasty by General Xu Da under the orders of Zhu Yuanzhang, the city was once a military stronghold to prevent invasions by the Jurchens and Mongols. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty's entry into the pass, the city was breached. Now, the Japanese had once again invaded this ancient fortress.

After the Japanese occupied Shanhaiguan, they implemented military control, and a curfew was enforced at night. Japanese military police and traitors who had joined the Japanese patrolled the streets.

The quiet night was suddenly interrupted by several gunshots. The patrolling Japanese military police immediately shouted, "Catch them!" Li She opened the window and glanced down, seeing six young men and women in gray coats firing at dozens of Japanese soldiers in a nearby alley.

Li She leaped onto the roof and heard the six people talking from a distance. "Secretary, you go first! The documents must not fall into Japanese hands. We need to report to the party committee that there is a traitor among us!" a man shouted.

"No, I won't go!" a woman's voice called out.

"Bang, bang, bang..." The gunfire was relentless.

Li She used his lightness skill and leaped over the rooftops. "They're out of bullets, catch them!" a Japanese military police captain shouted.

The six people had run out of ammunition and were in despair, but their firm beliefs kept their expressions resolute. The woman called Secretary took out a grenade and said firmly, "Comrades! This is the moment to test us."

The other five also looked resolute and said, "Secretary, we would rather die than be captured."

They knew that if they were captured and taken to the Japanese military police headquarters, none of them would come out alive. It was better to die a heroic death.

Dozens of Japanese soldiers were still rushing in. A Japanese officer with a samurai sword shouted at a man with a middle part hairstyle, "Mr. Liu, persuade your comrades to surrender."

The man, wearing a Japanese military uniform and a suit, nodded respectfully and said, "Hai!" He took a few steps forward and shouted, "Secretary Hu, if you surrender, the Imperial Army will guarantee your safety and you will enjoy endless wealth and honor."

Secretary Hu cursed, "Spit! You traitor! The people will execute you! Liu Desheng, you will not die a good death!"

"Traitor! You will not die a good death!" the other members angrily shouted.

"Hmph, the victor is the king, the loser is the bandit. A wise bird chooses its tree! Besides, who is Liu Mou? Hu Xuemei, you have no way to escape today, or else..."

At that moment, a scorching wave of heat surged toward the outer Japanese soldiers, sweeping away twenty of them. Screams filled the air.

I trained all day yesterday and didn't proofread, sorry everyone!

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends